Megan Brown recently lost her brother in a horrific car accident and she’s struggling to cope with it. Tyler was always there to protect her and still be the life of the party and she doesn’t know how their family will cope without them. Shortly after his death the police announce he died of a heroin overdose and that he was planning to defer college, both of which come as a huge shock to her family as it seems they didn’t know him at all. Meanwhile, Megan has also started noticing that when she touches objects that belonged to him she gets visions of memories of Tyler’s. Is it possible that if she keeps touching Tyler’s things she can actually find out what happened to him? Unfortunately, just as Megan discovers this power she realizes that some of the objects Tyler had on him when he died have gone missing which means someone came into their home to go through his things. Is she getting in over her head? Can she handle the truth if she uncovers it?

The premise of this story is interesting and the conclusion doesn’t disappoint. It takes awhile for the pieces to begin coming together but the resolution is exciting. Fans of mystery such as The Naturals and When will enjoy a mystery title about a character who has an unusual ability. The backdrop of Abraham Lincoln gives the story an unusual twist that makes it more memorable and unique.

Cassel lives in a world where magic is possible, but illegal and not everyone is capable of doing it. He is the only member of his family who cannot perform some type of magic. He currently goes to a private boarding school to try and get away from his crazy family, but that is all jeopardized when he mysteriously sleepwalks onto the roof of the dorm and is mistakenly believed to be a suicide risk. Years prior to this incident Cassel believes he killed his best friend although the memory is a bit hazy. Now, he is having weird visions about a white cat and sleepwalking and he starts to wonder if his family is telling him the truth about what happened that fateful night years before. Would his family use their powers on him? Can he find out the truth before it is too late?

Fantasy lovers will enjoy this book partly because it is so unique. It is not the same book we’ve all read a thousand times, but instead brings a new and modern twist to the magic and fantasy genre. Cassel’s family all have real and understandable motivations, but that does not mean they all make the correct choices all the time. Cassel is faced with some hard truths as he learns the facts and must decide how he will proceed. The book is entertaining and engaging and will keep readers asking for more.

Luce begins her first day at Sword and Cross, a reform school, and feels lost until she sets eyes on Daniel Grigori. Suddenly she feels like she is home and has known him all of her life. He insists he does not know her and tries to push her away at every opportunity. Meanwhile, Luce is trying to come to terms with the reason she has had to come to Sword and Cross. She was involved in another student’s death at her previous school and knows that her weird visions had something to do with it, but she maintains her innocence to anyone who questions her about the incident. She meets some unusual students at the school and finds she has no real allegiance to any of them when Daniel is present. Can she find out why she is so drawn to him and yet why he is so determined to keep her away?

This fantasy mystery story will appeal to the Twilight and City of Bones readers. There are no vampires in the story, but the romance is compelling as it plays out. The story has a unique nature that many fantasy stories do not and the characters are colorful and memorable. Beware that there is a sequel in the works and the story is not resolved by this book’s end. A must read for fantasy/romance lovers.

This story is told in the second person point of view, which means that the reader is the main character. You have been a foster child for many years and despite finding a great family you thought you would stay with forever, problems began to arise when you began having your visions again. As a child you had had visions or shimmers in which you could see glimpses into the future. Since it seemed to upset people whenever you told anyone, you stopped discussing your visions at a young age. Unfortunately, when the shimmers begin up again it distresses your new family and so you begin looking for boarding schools to attend. You find one called Trumbull Woodhouse, which is a very exclusive all girls school. Once you arrive, you begin noticing that your shimmers are coming faster now and at the same time someone begins to sabotage your every move. Who would want you to get kicked out? Is there any way to stop this person before it’s too late?

The format of this book is very unusual, but makes for a fun story. As the story goes on and very personal attacks are made against the main character, who is “you” in this story, the reader begins to feel as if it is her getting attacked. The more that is revealed about this school the more intriguing it gets. There are similarities to this series and the Gemma Doyle series by Libba Bray, but at this time the level of fantasy is very low. The ending seemed a bit fast, but immediately flows into the next one in the series. This series will always keep girls wanting more. Recommended.